{"id":4295,"date":"2025-06-17T11:17:52","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T11:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buvei.com\/blog\/?p=4295"},"modified":"2025-06-17T11:18:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T11:18:10","slug":"what-is-protected-personal-information","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buvei.com\/blog\/what-is-protected-personal-information\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Protected Personal Information (PPI)? A Comprehensive Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-page-id=\"HKd5dOYFhoay0uxMWBplvvKngnc\" data-lark-html-role=\"root\" data-docx-has-block-data=\"true\">\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-FLmrdawCloyljTxpZkWl2i2agzX\">In the digital age, every online interaction contributes to your data footprint. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/surfshark.com\/\" data-lark-is-custom=\"true\">Surfshark<\/a>, the average smartphone user generates up to <strong>188 data points per day<\/strong>, fueling a growing stream of user data collected by apps, merchants, and platforms.<\/div>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-D9Y4dLv4wotxv9xnIc7lPEFjg9f\">While some of this data is routine and benign\u2014like app usage or crash logs\u2014other types are far more sensitive and require stricter protections. These are known as <strong>Protected Personal Information (<a href=\"https:\/\/csrc.nist.gov\/glossary\/term\/personally_identifiable_information\">PPI<\/a>)<\/strong>.<\/div>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-ZdTodxqsYoYEDCxuGK5l0AYLgMc\">In this guide, we\u2019ll explore:<\/div>\n<ul class=\"list-bullet1\">\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-NrogdsGN4oQ9CpxbAOvlaZ3sgId\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>The difference between personal information and protected personal information<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-Ps0TdZ2xJoEbGOxtq3rl25rUg4c\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Examples of PPI and the risks of exposure<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-ABeZdy0aGotuYjxD7Maln1qVgub\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>The key U.S. laws governing data protection<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-S6LfdgAzgo0UcCxo1fplsxibgWe\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Best practices to safeguard your information using tools like <strong>virtual cards<\/strong> from providers such as <a href=\"https:\/\/buvei.com\/\"><strong>Buvei<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"heading-3 ace-line old-record-id-QYlddoIPTocZcwx78y5lYCEFglh\">What Is Personal Information (PI)?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-JkWfd0fnfoFMhcxbGi9limHWgTe\">Most data privacy laws define <strong>personal information (PI)<\/strong> as any information that can directly or indirectly identify an individual.<\/div>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-VKSDdVMedoyru8x6cvclZ2QegJg\">For example, under the <strong>California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)<\/strong>, personal information includes data that:<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\" old-record-id-Szh5dVh83ogucYxNDy5lwcb7gef\" data-type=\"quote_container\">\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-WxD9dDjuFoGao5xoZBjlu4jLgNb\">\u201c...identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked...with a particular consumer or household.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-TkuNdV5lvoCBr1x4ZXVldH0zg7e\"><strong>Common types of personal information include:<\/strong><\/div>\n<ul class=\"list-bullet1\">\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-VSWQdaNhUobnkvxQzTGlOiDRgPc\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Full name<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-Z6i1dmdZ5oj11lxAmZBlDMDEgJg\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Address<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-Kl6Od8IzOoAtm7xXklwl0KsNgDf\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Email or phone number<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-QtAQduht2oFyqcxiyaTlZEEUg2b\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Shopping history<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-Y3Xnd6FUBoJdz3x1RKglsKd9gRc\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Gender or birthdate<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-O68vdxbIGoXohbxEYPyltw7ZgLb\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Credit card number<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-E3p4dtKT3o56g6xTCRzlTVHLgcg\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Employment details<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"heading-3 ace-line old-record-id-LJNndiApZoTBHSxAkeDlJDPJgUh\">What Is Protected Personal Information (PPI)?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-Vnt8d5giqosx9pxqoVAlkWuNgXg\"><strong>Protected Personal Information (PPI)<\/strong> is a <strong>subset of PI<\/strong> that, due to its sensitivity, is subject to stricter handling and regulatory standards. If exposed or misused, PPI can result in <strong>identity theft<\/strong>, <strong>financial fraud<\/strong>, or <strong>privacy violations<\/strong>.<\/div>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-P2jjd9O1bovTGzxSB6BlbLShgAh\"><strong>Examples of PPI include:<\/strong><\/div>\n<ul class=\"list-bullet1\">\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-QyNfdLmHKonuWWxHNx7lEacZgZf\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Social Security number (SSN)<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-T9BLdZ2NsompkYxdngGlN5KigjM\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Driver\u2019s license, passport, or government-issued ID numbers<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-R8JGdFYguoa4EqxRCjvlyZqog6b\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Bank account or payment card information<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-CHOSdGlenol5hpx1KoWldXK8gHb\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Medical records and health data<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-AQvhdeHSMoMNojx0VrBlhIAHgvb\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Biometric data (e.g., fingerprints, facial scans)<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-K7dDd3esBoJgwtxI1uqlWHW8ghf\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Academic transcripts<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-LSnEdqhQgoCi3mxMNmnlLS6MgVb\">\ud83d\udee1\ufe0f <strong>PPI + Public Breach = Risk<\/strong> Unlike basic PI, the exposure of PPI often requires <strong>breach reporting<\/strong> under federal or state laws and can trigger lawsuits, fines, or identity monitoring requirements for businesses.<\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4297 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.buvei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/What-Is-Protected-Personal-Information-PPI-A-Comprehensive-Guide1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.buvei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/What-Is-Protected-Personal-Information-PPI-A-Comprehensive-Guide1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress.buvei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/What-Is-Protected-Personal-Information-PPI-A-Comprehensive-Guide1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress.buvei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/What-Is-Protected-Personal-Information-PPI-A-Comprehensive-Guide1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress.buvei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/What-Is-Protected-Personal-Information-PPI-A-Comprehensive-Guide1-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wordpress.buvei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/What-Is-Protected-Personal-Information-PPI-A-Comprehensive-Guide1-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/wordpress.buvei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/What-Is-Protected-Personal-Information-PPI-A-Comprehensive-Guide1-832x624.jpg 832w, https:\/\/wordpress.buvei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/What-Is-Protected-Personal-Information-PPI-A-Comprehensive-Guide1-1248x936.jpg 1248w, https:\/\/wordpress.buvei.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/What-Is-Protected-Personal-Information-PPI-A-Comprehensive-Guide1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"heading-3 ace-line old-record-id-BMtXddO0go9gBUxflKLlQb9QgQd\">What Laws Protect Your PPI in the U.S.?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-N5zsdMvbco4So7x1af5lGnxYgrc\">While there\u2019s no single unified privacy law in the U.S., several <strong>sector-specific<\/strong> and <strong>state-level<\/strong> laws govern the collection, storage, and sharing of PPI:<\/div>\n<div class=\" old-record-id-PUJydYD76oofDGxpAG7laqsPg4g\" data-type=\"sheet\">\n<table style=\"height: 277px;\" width=\"713\">\n<colgroup>\n<col width=\"111\" \/>\n<col width=\"215\" \/>\n<col width=\"271\" \/><\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Law<\/td>\n<td>Applies To<\/td>\n<td>Protects<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>HIPAA<\/td>\n<td>Healthcare providers &amp; insurers<\/td>\n<td>Medical records and patient data<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>GLBA<\/td>\n<td>Financial institutions<\/td>\n<td>Banking, loans, and credit report data<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>COPPA<\/td>\n<td>Online services for children under 13<\/td>\n<td>Personal data of minors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>FERPA<\/td>\n<td>Educational institutions<\/td>\n<td>Student records and grades<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>CCPA \/ CPA \/ VCDPA<\/td>\n<td>California, Colorado, Virginia<\/td>\n<td>Consumer data rights, opt-outs, security obligations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-FFhWdSoSzoUPmYxbC1xlo751grf\">\ud83d\udccc <strong>Bonus Tip:<\/strong> Several states now grant consumers the right to access, delete, or restrict the use of their PPI\u2014an important trend for data-conscious users and businesses alike.<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"heading-3 ace-line old-record-id-WYm0ddr05oXzF2xqgvQlRWQ9g6c\">How to Protect Your PPI: 3 Smart Strategies<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-CFU7dKhwYooZWbx5XeylK38Wgde\">Even with legal safeguards in place, the <strong>first line of defense is you<\/strong>. Here are practical, proven strategies to reduce your exposure:<\/div>\n<h4 class=\"heading-4 ace-line old-record-id-E4uOdsHstoAm1txmBFtld1MbgJb\">\u2705 1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"list-bullet1\">\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-N4yJdd2Maodpw5xJVj0l4iQog3b\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Avoid password reuse across services.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-GgK8d8ZT1otRjrxtliVlPQlsgZb\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Use password managers like 1Password, Bitwarden, or Norton Password Manager.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"heading-4 ace-line old-record-id-XYGGdJATForX6qxroyqlgqpegog\">\u2705 2. Encrypt Your Online Traffic with a VPN<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"list-bullet1\">\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-JuKfdqYDZoyTMwxTHmulAWCggVh\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>VPNs (e.g., Proton VPN, Malwarebytes VPN) protect you from snooping on public Wi-Fi.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-PeiTduW9gooPuQxB782lbj0LgIF\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>They mask your IP address, location, and traffic behavior.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"heading-4 ace-line old-record-id-XIX9dcTCKo3jDzxxMyZlxTUXghf\">\u2705 3. Pay with Virtual Cards for Extra Protection<\/h4>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-Tw4NdturBoXiESxurP9lD7D5gEg\">Instead of entering your real credit card number into every website, use a <strong>virtual card<\/strong> \u2014 a randomly generated card number tied to your real account but protected by spending controls and merchant-specific limits.<\/div>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-L8vXdFIbwoXYlLxFC8FlLMq5gph\">\ud83d\udee1\ufe0f <strong>Buvei Virtual Cards<\/strong> offer advanced card-level security with:<\/div>\n<ul class=\"list-bullet1\">\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-PQ0od7LDCovBxqx8BFQlIX8Pgic\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Merchant locking<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-QVwWdIL9uo8eBGx8Qf2leETcgNk\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>One-time-use options<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-JZfNdW4j4oTqENxfuQ7liMxog4H\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Spend caps per transaction or per month<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-NubtdMwYBokDTAxcxk6l6PQwgmf\" data-list=\"bullet\">\n<div>Global availability for personal, business, and ad spend use<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-GgS4dDIO1oywh0xMLzBlvX6Pgdh\">\ud83d\udca1 <em>With Buvei, your real payment info stays protected\u2014even if the merchant is breached.<\/em><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"heading-3 ace-line old-record-id-YRSGd1u4zoVgYdxK8GBlitwhg2f\">Why PPI Protection Matters More Than Ever<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-EAxbd0lQNolFoGxYj5BllxZugdg\">From e-commerce checkouts to ad platforms, your <strong>data travels fast\u2014and far<\/strong>. In 2025 and beyond, managing your digital exposure is no longer just about privacy\u2014it's about <strong>preventing loss<\/strong>, <strong>fraud<\/strong>, and <strong>reputation damage<\/strong>.<\/div>\n<div class=\"ace-line ace-line old-record-id-XFfIde0mRo5hTaxLuE0lUcdpgum\">If you're a freelancer, digital creator, advertiser, or entrepreneur, PPI exposure can jeopardize not just your security, but also your business operations. Investing in better privacy tools\u2014like <strong>VPNs<\/strong>, <strong>password managers<\/strong>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/buvei.com\/vcc\"><strong>virtual cards from Buvei<\/strong><\/a>\u2014is a smart, scalable step toward peace of mind.<\/div>\n<div class=\" old-record-id-LBX5dYRF2owadrx949ql76OOgze\" data-type=\"divider\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the digital age, every online interaction contributes to your data footprint. According to Surfshark, the average smartphone&hellip;","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4296,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1962,1966,1964],"class_list":{"0":"post-4295","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-payment-basics","8":"tag-data-privacy","9":"tag-ppi-compliance","10":"tag-virtual-cards-security","11":"cs-entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buvei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buvei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buvei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buvei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buvei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4295"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buvei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4295\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buvei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buvei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buvei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buvei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}